I carry something called a "Screecher" air horn, and pepper mace when I'm camping, but the more I read about real life experiences the less I want to "spray" a bear. From what I've read in several reports it only seems to piss them off more, and it's not good unless you get it right in their eyes, if you have the balls to get that close you probably don't need bear spray.

I'm in Yellowstone for the summer and have learned carry bear spray everywhere I fish and hike. My only angry bear encounter, however, was at Big Fishing creek last august. When I'm back at Penn State I will be carrying bear spray from now on. Black bears can be just as dangerous as Grizzly's and bear spray is your best defense. (unless you carry a gun and know how to use it)

I kept some handy in northern Ontario, but it was likely unnecessary. That area was so remote. Those bears never see people and are not acclimated to human food. They just wanted to get away from us.

I disagree that bear spray is not effective. User error is just really high and the results are highly compromised because of this. If you are going to carry it, you have to keep it on your side and you have to be PREPARED to use it. It's like any other personal safety device. If you don't know how to use it and have not practiced with it...you are highly likely to fail with your usage in a situation where it is needed. So in that respect, it certainly is a waste to carry it for most people.

Your best bet is always to be educated about the animals in the area you fish so you can know how to best coexist with them. Someone else already stated that making some noise while you are walking is probably your best option. If you are camping, hopefully you have done your homework on how to protect your camp from bears as well. It takes a lot of works to be safe in the wilderness. Most people don't do it and that is where you run into trouble....no matter what you are doing out there.

I would only carry bear spray in grizzly country [obviously not much of a concern in PA] or if I fished in areas where bears had grown accustomed to humans (and our food and garbage). The other type of encounter that is somewhat probable is getting between a sow and her cubs and that's a position I ever care to be in. All bears I've ever encountered in the remote woods have turn tail and run away. They should be respected but need not be feared. It's much more dangerous to drive to a remote location to fish then it is to encounter a bear. I fear the two legged creatures behind the wheel more than our resident black bears.

I would only carry bear spray, or a .357 snubby for that matter, if I was spending the night in the woods. During the day a dangerous bear encounter would be slim in PA. The last thing you want is a bear in in your back country camp at night though...